INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

Office:

Contact Information:

A Message From Joe:

"While watching our graduates march up on stage to receive their diplomas each year,
I can’t help but think how each student has a story about how they got to Southern
and how they succeeded in earning a degree. As they walk up to receive their diplomas,
or are greeted afterward by family and friends, you wonder what their journey was
like, and what life has in store for them in the years ahead.

As the media relations person for Southern, I’m always interested in conveying inspiring
stories about our university – its students, faculty and staff – that the average
person at home reading the newspaper, listening to the radio or watching TV will find
appealing. During my more than 15 years here, I have had the pleasure of getting the
word out about so many of our inspiring students and passionate faculty; our innovative
programs and state-of-the-art facilities; and above all, touting this wonderful university
that has provided generations of students with a launching pad for success. I enjoy
working with the media and the many talented reporters and editors in the field –
though I must confess to being a bit biased having worked for 15 years as a journalist
before my tenure at Southern.

In addition to media relations, writing/editing and collaborating on various marketing
initiatives, my role also includes organizing periodic academic forums on topics that
are timely and relevant to people’s lives. Last fall, more than 600 people, including
425 high school students, came to a program that focused on NASA’s Kepler Mission
and the potential for a manned mission to Mars. This fall, we have a program in the
works regarding the 2016 presidential election featuring a national political reporter
who is covering the campaign. Several of our own faculty will be part of the panel
discussion.

I’m always interested in hearing from our constituents – students, faculty, parents,
staff – as well as the general public on their thoughts and ideas about Southern.
Feel free to drop me a line anytime."